Jaguar XK 120, XK 140 y XK 150: libros - historia, modelos y técnica

A welcome addition to the Great Cars Series, this volume focuses on the Jaguar XK 120, 140 and 150 model ranges.
The XK120 established Jaguar as a world-renowned marque, providing a remarkable combination of style, world-beating performance and innovative engineering, and the subsequent XK140 and XK150 maintained Jaguar's position as a leading sports car manufacturer.

With the aid of archive images and stunning studio photography, respected Jaguar historian Nigel Thorley tells the story of these classic cars.

More than 30,000 examples of the three series of Jaguar XK open tourers, convertibles and coupes were manufactured over a period of 11 years, and the majority which have survived have become highly collectable classics by discerning enthusiasts, who recognize their significance within the total Jaguar performance-car legend.
For it was the original XK120, introduced to a car-starved world in the aftermath of the World War II, which earned for Jaguar its biggest ever headlines and steered the company to brilliant success.
The author, renowned as one of the world's leading Jaguar experts, describes in turn each model's design, development and production history and their competition careers, and offers valuable purchasing and ownership advice, including spare parts sources.

Chapters: Ancestors and parentage - The XK 120 - The XK 140 - The XK 150 - XKs in competition - Buying a Jaguar XK - Spares and maintenance.
Appendices: Technical specifications - Chassis numbers, engine numbers and model identification - Engine changes by model, date and number - XK colour finishes - XK production figures - Performance figures.

Das Referenzhandbuch für XK-Besitzer und Restauratoren. Erstklassige Exemplare aller neun Jaguar-XK-Modelle in Wort und Bild. über 150 exklusive, brillante Farbfotos.
überzeugende Detailaufnahmen von Karosserie, Interieur und Mechanik. Minutiös recherchierter Text und zahlreiche Tabellen. Alle Abbildungen von einer Jury aus namhaften XK-Eperten ausgewählt.

There have been other generations of Jaguar XK since, but the definitive incarnation is the family of 6-cylinder sports cars that stretch from the late 1940s to the mid-1970s, from XK120 to the E-Type.
On road, on track and on rally stage, they built the foundations of Jaguar's sporty image and giant-killing reputation, not to mention its commercial roots - especially in America. By any definition, the 6-cylinder XKs are at the heart of everything that Jaguar grew into.

This is the complete story of the whole 6-cylinder XK generation, the circumstances, the people and the events that created it and made it a sports car legend - and guaranteed that forever after, in Jaguar's vocabulary, XK would always mean 'sports car'.

The Jaguar XK120 caused a sensation at the 1948 London Motor Show with its stunning appearance and the startling performance on tap from the innovative XK engine.
Although the captivating roadster had been intended as a limited volume showcase for the technically advanced powerplant, unprecedented consumer demand forced the company to build it in greater numbers, becoming the most affordable supercar of the time.

In this highly readable and informative book, award-winning historian John Nikas reveals the inside story of the development of the entire XK series, including the Le Mans winning sports racers and the iconic XK SS.
Always striving to burnish its burgeoning reputation, Jaguar improved the basic formula to create the XK140 in 1954. With more space, better handling and improved performance, the model cemented the company's reputation as one of the finest sports car manufacturers in the world.

Despite the devastating fire at Brown's Lane in 1957, Jaguar introduced a new model later that year with revolutionary all-round disc brakes from Dunlop - the perfect complement for a vehicle offering faster acceleration and a higher top speed than ever before.

This is the story of all the models from that fascinating era with rare period images and beautiful colour photographs from famed automotive photographer Marc Vorgers.

Un ouvrage de l'éditeur Iconografix consacré aux voitures Jaguar XK120, XK140, XK150 des années 1948-1961. Une magnifique collection de 121 photos d'archives grand format de haute qualité.

Complet avec des légendes détaillées et un bref aperçu de l'histoire. Grâce à l'iconographie authentique d'époque ce volume de la série "Ludvigsen Library" est une source riche d'informations concernant les modèles Jaguar XK 120, 140 et 150.

The Jaguar XK120, introduced in 1948, not only looked gorgeous but it also had performance and speed almost unimaginable in those days, with 120mph within its reach at a time when only an handful of exclusive models could reach 100mph and most family cars were beginning to run out of breath at 60.

The twin overhead camshaft 3.4-litre engine had extraordinary qualities: it would happily allow the driver to dawdle along boulevards in top gear, while for the competitive owner it was fully ready to race - and to win - without further preparation.

Anders Ditlev Clausager is Chief Archivist of the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust, and is thus perfectly positioned to write this book. In it he has drawn together material from the factory records and archive to provide historical and statistical information that has never previously been assembled.

He sets out the background to the genesis of the XK120, and gives a detailed account of the development of the XK engine. He then tells how the XK120 was designed and goes on to describe its extraordinary debut in 1948. The evolution of the model is recounted, including the introduction of the fixed-head coupé and drophead coupé versions, and major production changes are listed, whilst production and sales worldwide are analysed in depth.

There is a chapter on the wide range of competition activities in which XK120s featured, including Le Mans, with coverage also of record-breaking exploits. All the prototypes and works cars are individually treated, and the records have yielded extensive information on XK120s that became famous or went to famous owners.

A section is devoted to special-bodied cars and "specials", and finally the author gives a view of the experience of owning an XK120 today. There are also appendices: the first lists the early alloy-bodied cars; in the second there is advice on identification and dating; and the third provides unprecedented detail on colour schemes.

Five outstanding examples of the cars have been specially photographed for this book, among them NUB120 and Stirling Moss's Monthléry record-breaking fixed-head. In all there are some 100 colour illustrations, combined with more than 300 black-and-white pictures from the archives.

In its exceptionally thorough examination of these most desirable cars, this book provides a rich store of knowledge for the many owners and enthusiasts who care passionately about them.

Jaguar XK 120 chassis 660725 was ordered new by Singaporean businessman and amateur racing driver Chan Lye Choon, but soon after its arrival it was acquired by Malayan-based Scotsman Bob Henderson, a young rubber trader who would keep the car for more than 60 years.
During its time in the Far East, 660725 was shot at by Communist Terrorists during the Malayan Emergency, competed in official and highly unofficial road races, and eventually followed its owner from Malaya to Indonesia.
Then it was back to Scotland - where the XK was occasionally used for towing de Havilland Mosquito aircraft as well as racing against them - and on to Canada, where it achieved notable success in ice-racing and rallying.
After a long period of hibernation, 660725 was restored in the early years of the 21st century before Henderson decided to carry out his own disc brake conversion. Amazingly, this resourceful engineer also fitted a turbocharger, which led to the elderly XK recording a 0-100mph time of 13.8 seconds!

Written by Simon Ham with considerable input from Henderson himself, this book covers all of the car's adventures in detail, bringing the story right up to date via its recent recommissioning work with its current owner.

Features:
- Full story of the Jaguar's time in Kuala Lumpur and its competition activities in the Far East
- Ice-racing success in Canada and its victory in the gruelling Canadian International Winter Rally
- How the car was restored in Bob Henderson's native Scotland following 30 years of storage
- An in-depth look at how its owner successfully fitted a turbocharger to the venerable six-cylinder engine
- Details of Henderson's best-known automotive creation - the mid-engined Argyll GT
- Dozens of evocative images from Henderson's personal collection, plus a bespoke studio photoshoot.

This book tells the story of one of the six alloy-bodied XK 120s that were prepared by Jaguar in 1950 for racing and rallying. This one, known as JWK 651 because of the registration number it has carried since new, was owned by Leslie Johnson and raced by him in some of the most prestigious events of the time, including the Le Mans 24 Hours, the Mille Miglia (twice) and the Tourist Trophy at Dundrod.

Beyond that, Johnson and up-and-coming Stirling Moss visited the speed bowl at Montlhéry, near Paris, for a record-breaking attempt and Johnson also took part in the RAC Rally. Besides this diverse and distinguished period competition career, the book tells the story of the later life of this most significant XK 120.
The book includes a wealth of period photographs as well as a portfolio of magnificent studio images.

Jaguar's series of XK sports cars used the remarkable twin overhead camshaft engine first exposed to the public in 1948 in the new XK120 two-seater, which took the motoring world by storm.

For 1954 the XK120 was replaced by the more refined, mildly restyled XK140 model, with an increase in power, optional overdrive, a roomier cockpit, and top speed up to 130mph from the XK120's 120mph maximum. Available as a two-seat roadster, a drophead coupé and a fixed-head coupé, it represented the maturing of the XK line.

It was replaced in 1957 by what turned out to be the last of the line and the immediate predecessor of the E-Type, the XK150. With disc brakes on all wheels, the option of engines up to 265bhp and a completely new but recognisably "XK" body, the XK150 was an extremely competent high-performance car with more than a touch of glamour.

This book opens with an exposition of the background to the introduction of the XK140, a key model because the XK120 was such a hard act to follow. Then comes a full technical analysis of the new car, covering all aspects of the chassis, running gear, engine and transmission, along with descriptions of the body types offered.
This sets the scene for the subsequent coverage of the XK150. Major production changes during the evolution of the two models are recorded, and production and sales worldwide are analysed in depth.

The author also provides information on prototypes, special-bodied cars, famous cars and famous owners. Appendices include advice on identification and dating, and unprecedented detail on colour schemes.
Nine outstanding examples of XK140s and150s are featured in 140 specially commissioned colour photographs, accompanied by some 250 photographs from the archives of the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust and reproductions of XK sales and publicity material.

Acheter une Jaguar XK mais éviter un mauvais achat ? Ce livre Essential Buyer's Guide, rédigé par un expert de la marque, est plein de conseils pratiques pour l'achat de cette Jaguar XK 120, XK 140 et XK 150.

Années : 1948-1961.

Ne traite pas des XK Specials, de la C-type ou la D-type ni des modèles de compétition ou la XKSS.

Ce guide de l'acheteur pour la Jaguar XK vous aide à trouver une voiture convenable au bon prix. Il répond aux questions suivantes :

• S'enfuir ou rester ? Première évaluation d'une Jaguar XK.
• Quel est le bon prix ? Évaluation avec un système de notation unique.
• Comment vérifier l'authenticité ?
• Quels sont les modèles les plus adaptés ?
• Quels sont les défauts connus ?
• Quelles sont les possibilités et l'impact d'une restauration ?
• Quels sont les coûts d'entretien ?

Un livre de Brooklands consacré aux voitures Jaguar XK 120 / 140 / 150 des années 1948-1960. Description des modèles Jaguar XK120, Coupé, C-type, Fitch-Jaguar, XK120M, D-type, XK140, Coupé, XK140MC, XKSS, XK150, Coupé, XK150S, Lister Jaguar, XK150S 3.8 et Le Mans.

Les 68 articles, parus à l'époque dans la presse automobile anglo-saxonne, sont une bonne source d'information sur l'histoire, l'évolution des modèles et la technique.

In this, the first in Porter Press's new 'Coachbuilt Cars' series, author Richard Heseltine has untangled the Ghia Jaguar XK 120 Supersonic's complicated story of British design brilliance and Italian design artistry.

Built on Jaguar XK 120 chassis number 679768, this car wasn't unique: two other examples were made in 1954. But the trio was just one part of the charismatic Supersonic canon, which began with a one-off GT intended to contest the Mille Miglia.
This tale, of how Ghia wowed the car world with its jet-age styling, takes in several fascinating characters whose names have peppered the post-war story of Italian car design, engineering and racing.

Features:
- In-depth background on Carrozzeria Ghia examines the Italian coachbuilder's efforts to spread across Europe and 'crack' the US market, which it did in a way by adding design stardust to Chrysler cars and creating the hugely popular Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia.
- The birth of Supersonic design as an Alfa Romeo-powered GT is covered in great detail, and the author goes on to explain how ostensibly the same car carried the badges of Aston Martin, Fiat and even AC/Shelby as the show-stopping, wind-cheating shape was adapted to a wide variety of other chassis.
- Readers will discover how the original Supersonic was the work of Giovanni Sovanuzzi, the genius designer-engineer famous for the Cisitalia 202. Meanwhile, race team legend Virgilio Conrero was first to put fire in the Supersonic's belly, while fiery Ghia chief Luigi Segre used the car to woo North America.
- A fascinating line-up of other Italian-bodied Jaguar XK sports cars are examined and illustrated, as a way to compare and contrast the Supersonic with the work of other accomplished Italian designers.
- The history of chassis number 679768, is chronicled, recounting its elusive first owner, its lengthy periods hidden from public view, and its status today as the prized centrepiece in a private collection.
- Stunning contemporary photography of the car is mixed with rare and fascinating archive images.

1950-1960. Lors des très riches heures de la compétition sur route, les Jaguar XK sont en pleine action dans les courses mythiques comme le rallye des Alpes, le Tour de France, le Lyon-Charbonnières, le Liège-Rome-Liège, le rallye des Tulipes, le Soleil-Cannes, l'Évian-Mont-Blanc, le Monte-Carlo, les Mille Miglia, le Sablé-Solesmes, le Neige et Glace, les 12 Heures d'Hyères, le rallye de Sestrières, les Routes du Nord et des dizaines d'autres compétitions et tentatives de records en France, en Belgique, en Hollande, en Italie, en Suisse...

Des photos à couper le souffle, des documents inédits présentent les Jaguar XK 120, 140, 150 mais aussi les Types-C et D en course sur route ouverte.
Deux cent quarante pages de bonheur automobile pour plonger dans l'album souvenir des pilotes et des photographes de l'époque, pour rêver, entrer en immersion totale dans ce temps révolu des gentlemen drivers, retrouver le parfum des fifties et re-découvrir le charme des rallyes de ces années 1950.